Police hunt dog walker who may have seen boy, two, fall into the River Soar - as specialist divers search through the night for the missing toddler

• The two-year-old fell into the River Soar near Aylestone, Leicestershire
• Did YOU see what happened? Email: [email protected] 

Police searching for a two-year-old boy who fell into a river want to get in touch with a dog walker who was in the area at the time the toddler was swept away.

Specialist divers continued to search overnight, as the police confirmed the toddler’s father has been discharged from hospital.

The young boy was with his family when he fell into the River Soar near Aylestone in Leicestershire on Sunday evening.

His father jumped in after the toddler to try and save him, police confirmed, as officers searching for him vowed: ‘We will bring him home.’

He was taken to hospital that night as a precaution but has since been discharged.

Police using a drone and specialist divers stepped up their search yesterday, and continued to look for the boy overnight.

Sergeant Chris Haines, who is leading the search operation, said: ‘Underwater dive teams are doing extensive searches, which they are continuing at present.’

He added that searches will continue ‘over the next couple of days’.

Specialist divers will continue to search overnight for a two-year-old boy who fell into a river, as the police confirm the toddler’s father has been discharged from hospital. Pictured are search teams scouring the river yesterday

The young boy was with his family when he fell into the River Soar near Aylestone. Pictured are search teams on the river yesterday

His father jumped in after the toddler to try and save him, police confirmed, as officers searching for him vowed: ‘We will bring him home.’ Pictured is the scene yesterday

Specialist divers are part of the rescue efforts in the River Soar, Leicestershire

Last night, police said they are aware that a dog and owner were walking along the river’s footpath at around 5pm and urged the walker to get in touch.

The force also asked members of the public who have spoken with officers nearby to contact them so they can check the details given.

Specialist divers into action while back-up officers and resources have arrived from other forces including Lincolnshire Police, Nottinghamshire Police and London’s Metropolitan Police.

Leicestershire Police’s assistant chief constable Michaela Kerr said they were still searching for the boy, having extended the range of the river being covered, and were supporting the family.

Ms Kerr told a news conference at the scene yesterday afternoon: ‘We’re confident we will find him – we’re doing everything we possibly can.

‘For the family, our commitment is absolutely to make sure we bring their little boy home.

‘We’ve got all the specialist resources we would possibly want, I think, in a case like this. Our absolute priority is to find that little boy.’

She said: ‘The child was with a family member at the time he went into the water.

‘We do know one person went into the River Soar to try to get the child but sadly we still haven’t been able to find the child.’

She confirmed that person was a family member, subsequently taken to hospital and now discharged.

Leicestershire Police’s assistant chief constable Michaela Kerr has vowed their ‘absolute priority’ is to find the two-year-old boy who fell into the river on Sunday evening

The assistant chief constable revealed a family member went into the water trying to save him

The search is taking place in the River Soar near Aylestone Meadows Local Nature Reserve

Rising tides and flooding which could hamper the operation have been reported

She did not name the boy though said the family was ‘local’ to the area.

A drone was seen in the air as part of search efforts on Sunday night, with police and fire crews calling off their search at about 9.30pm though officers remained close to the scene overnight, ready to act on any new information.

A long-standing resident whose home overlooks Aylestone Meadows said flooding from the River Soar in recent weeks had left parts of the nature reserve in a treacherous state.

She said a helicopter had initially flown over the area for around an hour after reports that a two-year-old child had fallen in the river.

The resident, who did not wish to be named, told reporters: ‘It seemed to be there for a long time hovering.

‘It felt as if it was above my house. The lights were on and it didn’t move for about an hour or so.’

The woman, who walks regularly in the area, said a nearby canal and the river sometimes ‘go into one’ during peak flooding periods.

‘It’s fast-flowing,’ she said of current conditions. ‘It’s been quite bad.

‘It’s devastating to think how they (family members) must be feeling.’

Flooding and rising tides in the area have intensified concerns for the youngster in Leicester

Officers were hunting for a two-year-old boy who went into the River Soar at 5pm on Sunday

Leicestershire Police revealed they were stepping up their hunt for the missing toddler

Police and fire crews called off their hunt for the child at about 9.30pm yesterday but have begun again this morning

The Environment Agency has issued a flood warning for the Upper Soar catchment area

The search resumed yesterday and continued overnight, with a Leicestershire Police spokeswoman telling MailOnline: ‘There are rising water levels in the area, and flooding, and we’re going to be bringing in additional resources today to assist with that.’

READ MORE: Tragedy as boy, two, falls in river while out with family: Police call off search for missing tot for the night – with man taken to hospital amid major incident which saw helicopter and drone scour the scene

The Environment Agency has issued a yellow flood warning for the Upper Soar catchment area, which means flooding is considered ‘possible’.

Yesterday’s search operation has included two Tactical Support Unit boats.

A police helicopter was seen searching the river at about 5.40pm on Sunday, later replaced with a drone.

The helicopter then returned at 6.40pm after refuelling and was lighting up the search area.

The road between Braunstone Lane East and Middleton Street remained closed.

Local man Adam, who did not want to give his surname, was with his daughter on their bikes nearby.

He told the BBC: ‘We usually ride along the river by Aylestone Meadows but the police told us not to go tonight when we went down there. The parents must be absolutely beside themselves.’

Aylestone ward councillor Nigel Porter today told LeicestershireLive: ‘I was extremely shocked and saddened to hear this news. Our thoughts in Aylestone are with the little boy’s family at this difficult time.’

Tactical Support Unit boats have been sent into action while officers have entered the river too

The search operation continues on the River Soar in Leicester after a two-year-old boy fell in

Police are concerned about rising water in the area and flooding as they carry on searching

Leicestershire Police says the toddler’s family is being supported while searches continue

While the boy remained missing, a man was taken to hospital as a ‘precautionary measure’

More resources were sent to the scene near Aylestone and Braunstone on Monday morning

Officers have concerns about rising water levels in the area potentially hampering efforts

Police had launched the major search operation on Sunday evening shortly after 5pm

A police helicopter was sighted searching the river in Braunstone, Leicestershire, at about 5.40pm on Sunday – later replaced with a drone

The helicopter returned at 6.40pm after refuelling and was seen lighting up the search area

Police have said the search was resuming on Monday morning, with additional resources

The force said that ‘despite the best efforts of those at the scene’, the toddler has not been found – while also confirming a man has been taken to hospital as a precaution

A statement released by the police said: ‘Earlier this evening (Sunday 18 February) officers were called to the River Soar in Leicester after reports of a child falling into the water.

‘The child, a two-year-old boy, was with family when he fell into the river, sadly despite the best efforts of those at the scene at the time the child was not located.

‘Emergency services attended the scene just after 5pm and a search and rescue operation began in Aylestone Meadows, close to Marsden Lane.

‘A man was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.

‘The child’s family are being supported by specialist officers and our thoughts are with them at this extremely difficult time.

‘We have had a number of offers of support to assist with the search and would kindly ask that people do not attend the scene due to rising water levels and safety risks.

‘If anyone has any information or comes across anything that may assist officers, they are asked to contact us immediately.

‘Specialist teams are on standby to respond to any information received.’

A spokesperson for the fire and rescue service said: ‘This is a police-led incident. We can confirm we were alerted at 17:05 and still have water rescue teams at the scene.’

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